Rutgers Celebrates Black History Month

The following is a listing of events across the university’s campuses.

February 1

7 p.m. – The Douglass Black Students’ Congress kicks off Black History Month with Jazz ‘N Java Multicultural Poetry Night featuring the Big Rich and Soul7 Band at the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Theatre, Douglass Campus. Contact: wilson77@rci.rutgers.edu 

February 4 

11:30 a.m. – Stop by the Black History Month kickoff event at the Paul Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Contact: sharrikh@andromeda.rutgers.edu

February 6

8 p.m. – The Office of Multicultural Student Involvement continues its Arts Appreciation Series with tickets for Rennie Harris and RHAW, a professional hip-hop dance company focused on youth and urban culture, at the State Theatre, New Brunswick. Admission: $5 with Rutgers I.D. Contact: wilson77@rci.rutgers.edu

8:30 p.m.  –  The Black Organization of Students gathers for Unity Night at the Paul Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Contact: sharrikh@andromeda.rutgers.edu

February 7

5:45 p.m. – The Graduate School of Education presents its Samuel DeWitt Proctor Lecture Series featuring Dr. Donna Ford of Vanderbilt University on gifted children of color at the University Inn and Conference Center, Douglass Campus. Register here 

7 p.m. –  The Haitian Association of Rutgers University sponsors a video presentation and discussion of forgotten leaders at Rutgers Student Center, College Avenue Campus.  Contact: haru.pr@gmail.com

February 8

7 p.m. – The Black Student Union presents its annual Black History Month opening ceremony at Douglass Student Center, Douglass Campus. Dinner will be served and semi-formal attire is encouraged. Contact: charnayeward@gmail.com

7 p.m. – The Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance and the Council of Black Graduates presents State Theatre Artist-in-Residence Glenis Redmond for a special evening of poetry at Paul Robeson Campus Center, Busch Campus. Contact: info@rutgersblackalumni.org

February 9

8 a.m. - 11 p.m. – The Rutgers chapter of the NAACP offers a day trip to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in Washington, D.C. with a bus departing from Rutgers Student Center, College Avenue Campus. Breakfast will be served on the bus; dinner on your own in the nation’s capital. Contact: scarletnaacp@gmail.com

February 12

4 p.m. – Come learn African dance from Renee "Oyin" Hardy, founder of Troupe Dada African Dance and Drum Ensemble at the Raptor Roost, Camden Campus. Contact: (856) 225-2715

6 p.m. – The Office of Multicultural Student Involvement gives step-by-step instructions on how to attain a high GPA via good study skills, time management and study habits at Douglass Student Center, Douglass Campus. Pre-registration required. Contact: wilson77@rci.rutgers.edu 

February 13

8 p.m. – The Black Organization of Students presents "The Cipher," an evening of poetry, at the Paul Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Contact: sharrikh@andromeda.rutgers.edu

February 15

7:30 p.m. – The Haitian Association of Rutgers University presents its popular annual “Apollo Night” at Rutgers Student Center, College Avenue Campus. Contact: haru.pr@gmail.com 

February 16

9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m – The 33rd Annual Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series presents "Emancipation and the Work of Freedom" featuring speakers from Princeton and Duke universities, the University of Pennsylvania and City University of New York at the Paul Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Contact: mpierson@andromeda.rutgers.edu

February 19

12 p.m. – Dr. Katrina Hazzard Donald, director of the Africana Studies Program, will discuss "The Great Black Atlantic Tradition" during a lunchtime talk at the Paul Robeson Library, Camden Campus. Contact: (856) 225-2715

8 p.m. – The Center for Social Justice Education’s Reel Queer Film Series presents a film and discussion exploring LGBTQ experiences in South Africa at Douglass Student Center, Douglass Campus. Contact: sje@echo.rutgers.edu

February 20

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Enjoy a delicious soul food buffet luncheon at the Douglass Student Center Café, Douglass Campus. $10.00 per person. Contact: dave.donlon@dining.rutgers.edu

7 p.m. – The Black Organization of Students and the Program Board present a screening of "Ray," the Academy Award-winning film based on the life of musician Ray Charles, the Paul Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Contact: sharrikh@andromeda.rutgers.edu 

February 21

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Dining Services offers a soul food lunch for faculty and staff at Brower Faculty Dining Hall, College Avenue Campus. Contact: wilson77@rci.rutgers.edu

8 p.m. – The West Indian Student Association celebrates Caribbean heritage at the Paul Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Contact: sharrikh@andromeda.rutgers.edu

February 23

7 p.m. – The Delta Iota chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. presents its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. banquet and ball at Douglass Student Center, Douglass Campus. Contact: DeltaIota1906@gmail.com

7 p.m. – This year’s 31st annual gospel concert at Voorhees Chapel on Douglass Campus commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Free admission. Contact: (848) 932-1169

February 26

8 p.m. – The Rutgers University Programming Association presents a thought-provoking lecture with bestselling legal scholar Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindess, at Livingston Student Center, Livingston Campus. Contact: rupatraditionscommunity@gmail.com

February 27

4 p.m. – Dr. James Turner, founding directorof the Cornell University Africana Studies and Research Center, which became a model for Black Studies programs throughout the nation, will discuss "Africa and the World" at the Steadman Art Gallery in the Fine Arts Building, Camden Campus. Contact: (856) 225-2715

February 28

6 p.m. – Community activist Charlotte "Mama C" O'Neal leads students in a "What's Your Movement?" discussion at the Paul Robeson Galleries, Newark Campus. Contact: galleryr@andromeda.rutgers.edu